This was one of Long Island’s first multiplexes. It opened in 1973, shortly after the Sunrise Mall opened. United Artists signed a twenty year lease. The box office was originally in front of the theatre. When it stated getting congested, they moved it to the center of the mall where there was plenty of room. It opened originally with five screens, and in 1977, expanded to seven screens, with auditorium 6 housing the new Dolby Stereo CP-50 processor with surround sound. In February 1984, they added two more screens.

The theatre closed in 1999, shortly after United Artists opened the new Farmingdale tenplex, and after the lease had expired.

Knew about the Lynbrook (they still haven’t begun the demolition of the old theater) but another at Sunrise Mall? From the scope of it I would think a new building would be required rather than using space in the existing mall.

Went past the mall today and did a full circle. There is no new construction nor any signage re the theater which is supposed to open this year. A portion of the old Walmart is becoming a Dick’s Sporting Goods Store. Perhaps the balance will be repurposed for the theater.

Several years ago it was announced in the press that there would be a new theater at the Sunrise Mall. Nothing since. I found out about the intentions for a 2017 opening at the Regal site when I was looking to see when they planned on opening the new Lynbrook, which is now well under construction.

Since I was in the area of the Sunrise Mall I scouted to see where the theater would be. There was no new construction which would have been obvious for an IMAX and, I forget, around a dozen screens. That’s when I went back to the Regal site and saw the Massapequa Mall had been deleted.

With two large multiplexes in nearby Farmingdale I really don’t know why they had considered this site anyway.

Maybe they come not come to terms regarding their lease. RKO Century had planed on building a theater in Yonkers, NY as part of the current Costco-Stew Leonards site. They ended up in court over many varied issues and it never was built.

I won a prize package from radio station W.G.B.B for answering trivia questions.It included two tickets to the massapequa-mall showing of James Bond’s"Moonraker",plus:movie poster, a paper back book,a vinyl album sound track,and a souvenir program booklet.A dream come true for a big kid.